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Train fares on some of the busiest routes have risen up to three times faster than the cost of living since privatisation, figures reveal today.

A Top 10 chart of the most expensive city journeys shows the soaring cost of rail travel since John Major’s Conservative government voted to sell off the national network in 1993.

A walk-on single ticket to and from London to Manchester has risen by 208 per cent to £154, to Exeter by 205 per cent to £114.50 and to Cardiff 196 per cent to £103.50. During the same 20-year period the Retail Price Index has increased by 66 per cent.

John MacGregor, the then transport secretary, told MPs in 1993: “I see no reason why fares should increase faster under the new (private) system. In many cases, they will be flexible and will be reduced.”

The chart was produced by Barry Doe, one of the UK’s leading analysts on rail fares, for the TSSA transport union whose members include ticket office staff. Average rail fares have increased overall by 102.8 per cent since 1995, the year after British Rail was sold to Railtrack — later taken over by Network Rail, a not-for-profit publicly funded private company.

Manuel Cortes, TSSA general secretary, said: “Private rail firms were given a licence to print money and they have been ripping off passengers ever since. This chart demolishes the Tories’ claim when they sold off British Rail that fares would get cheaper.”

Rail fares increased last month by an average of 3.9 per cent though many London commuters were forced to pay more than the national average.

The increases were defended by Michael Roberts, chief executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies. He said: “Ministers want passengers to pay a larger share of running railway costs to reduce the contribution from taxpayers while sustaining investment in better stations, new trains and faster services.”